This album of cyanotype prints documents the early construction of the Mississippi and Illinois River Canal, also known as the Hennepin Canal. Each image comes with explanatory captions on the back side. The images document the first months of construction on the Mississippi and Illinois River Canal, commonly known as the Hennepin Canal. The construction pictured is near the Mississippi and Rock rivers while working on Lock 36 and Lock 37.
The prints cover much of the construction involved in building canals in the 19th century, and include portrayals of excavation and dredge work, extension and widening of rivers work on Carr Island (in the western portion of the Rock River), use of dynamite in lock building, pile driving, construction on concrete abutments, and other equipment and processes involved. Also included are images of the camps of workers and engineers.
Each image is captioned with a date and description of the image, often including names of identifiable workers and engineers.
Most of the images show actual construction, including the extension and widening of rivers, massive excavation and dredge work, work around Carr Island in the far western portion of the Rock River, the construction of embankments, and the use of dynamite to begin the lock building process. Other photographs show piling and pile driving, the camps of the workers, and completed cuts. The captions each note the month in which photographs are taken, and often name in the engineer in charge of the work and contractor.
Cyanotype print. Description on reverse: I. & M. Canal.
Construction of concrete abuts. for dams.
Filling last form of abutment north shore Rock River
September 1892
Cyanotype print. Description on reverse:
I. & M. Canal.
Excavating and driving piles at Lock #37, outlet lock into the Miss. River.
A. J. Whitney – Contractor
F.S.H. – Engr. in charge
Taken Feb. 1893
Cyanotype print. Description on reverse:
Construction of concrete abutments for dams. Putting up form for middle section of abutment on north shore Carr’s Island.
September 1892
Cyanotype print. Description on reverse:
Excavation in Lock #36 nearly done and pile-driving (with horses) begun.
John Killeur – contractor.
A. O. Rowse – Engr. in charge
Taken Nov. 1892
Cyanotype print. Description on reverse:
View showing the piling nearly done, some of the piles sawed off to grade.
John Killeur – Contractor
A. O. Rowse – Engr. in charge.
Taken February 1893
Cyanotype print. Description on reverse:
View of silt – for Lock #36 just after stripping of soil.
John Killeur – Contractor
A. O. Rowse – Engr. in charge
Taken in Oct. 1892
Cyanotype print. Description on reverse:
I. & M. Canal.
Extending north river Erub. by means of cars run out on floating barge
Erub. in Rock River.
December 1892
Cyanotype print. Description on reverse: I. & M. Canal – 2nd mile section
View of a section of finished work looking east from cross-bank
Grade of bottom 118.0 left-bank 134.0 right bank 131.5, banks are 8ft on top slopes 1 ½ to 1, bottom of canal 59.0 ft. Water-line 80ft. Depth of water is to be 7 feet.
A.C. Glass – sub-contractor of this section
F.S.H. – Engineer in charge.
Taken Dec. 1892
Cyanotype print. Description on reverse: I. & M. Canal – 1st mile section
View looking east from Lock #37. Canal prism partly finished.
J.H. Flick – sub-contractor
F.S.H. – Engr. in charge
Taken in Dec. 1892
Cyanotype print. Description on reverse: I. & M. Canal – 1st mile section
View of finished work looking west from cross-bank.
Mr. Keane – sub-contractor
F.S.H. – Engr. in charge
Taken Dec. 1892
Cyanotype print. Description on reverse: I. & M. Canal
Exc. At Lock #37
Steamer A.J. Whiney in distance
Taken Nov. 1892 by J.W. Woermann
F.S.H. – Engr. in charge